Friday, January 28, 2011

If you missed the free self-defense seminar held by Team Quest MMA and Fitness in Portland on Saturday (Jan. 22, 2011), you missed something good – good for you, good for your family and good for the community.

But the success of the effort may lead to more opportunities, according to Matt Lindland, Oregon’s Olympic Silver Medalist and Mixed Martial Arts Super-Star who co-founded Team Quest in Portland along with MMA legends Dan Henderson and Randy Couture.

“We are pleased at the response to our offer of a free self-defense seminar for the community, which we put on as a way of giving back to the community, and to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital,” Lindland said. “People who participated are asking for more. We may now schedule more free seminars like this, or maybe shorter, focused self-defense training in half-hour sessions, maybe weekly.”

MMA is the fastest growing sport in America, and Team Quest has earned a national and international reputation as one of the best, most famed mixed martial arts training centers in the world. Created in the Gresham area of Portland, Team Quest now has training centers in Portland, Tualatin, and West Linn in Oregon; and, in California, Redding, Oceanside, and Temecula, CA, which is led by Team Quest co-founder Dan Henderson. [For more details, log on to www.teamquestmma.net.]

Thursday, January 27, 2011

UPDATE: Mayor Chavonne's reply, Feb 1, reproduced at the bottom of the post

Viet Nam Veterans have been livid since hearing about Fayetteville, North Carolina mayor Tony Chavonne inviting anti-war types to the cities upcoming “Heroes Homecoming,” discussed HERE. Several forums have expressed our outrage and I am confident the mayor received more than a few email messages expressing such outrage.

Mayor Chavonne has issued a video statement “apologizing for any misinformation and confusion.”

Transcript:

“Hello I am Mayor Tony Chavonne - the son of a soldier and the proud mayor of a military town. I want to apologize for any misinformation and confusion arising from our Heroes Homecoming event planned for later this year.”

“I can assure you that 100% of our focus is on extending a welcome home to each and every one of our Vietnam Veterans and to thank and honor them for their service to our country. Let me be clear that we will not have any sanctioned events that include movies with Jane Fonda.”

“In Fayetteville, home to Fort Bragg - the nation’s largest Army installation – we pride ourselves on supporting the military. We are proud to say that in Fayetteville ‘We watch over those who watch over us’.”

“In November, we will welcome our Vietnam Veterans home. Their stories will touch your heart and it is our hope that our thanks will reflect a grateful America who welcomes them home.”

“I encourage you to take a few minutes to visit our web site at www.heroeshomecoming.com where you can see the full list of events we have planned to honor our Vietnam Veterans.”

“I extend an offer for you to visit us in Fayetteville this November for Veterans Day to help say thank you to these true American Heroes.”

Curiously enough, a reply to a comment I left at BigPeace.com, by someone I believe to be associated with the event, says the earlier claims were “fabricated” by a reporter.

Patriotmeroski: Sir, please check out HeroesHomecoming.com. This will give you a true picture of what is taking place then judge for yourself.

Lewwaters: Perhaps it would be better to have Mayor Chavonne consider the outrage his decision to rub our noses into the anti-war ilk again has caused.

While I believe the original intent was to honor Veterans, your mayor may have tainted that beyond repair.

That is who should be told to “find the true picture,” not me.

Patriotmeroski: Sir, I guess I chose the wrong words. The event never had anything to do with Fonda or events tied to it. A local reporter fabricated a story! From there it spread and we are just encouraging folks to look at this site to see that there are not any events like that in this Homecoming.

A cursory check of the Fayetteville Observer’s web page shows no retraction from or notice of termination of the reporter over fabricating such a story, leading me to believe it was not fabricated, but that the mayor came to his senses and realized, or was told in no uncertain terms, to disinvite the protesters to save the event.

I still believe the 10-day event was initially created with the best of intentions. Time will tell if the mayor’s damage control is enough.

In the mean time I am left to ponder, what the hell was he thinking?

Mayor Chavonne's reply:

Thank you for your note and your service. I am sorry for the confusion that is out there and can only offer the facts. There never were, are not and never will be plans to include Jane Fonda movies or anti-war demonstrations. Our complete list is at our web site at www.heroeshomecoming.com. You will note that 100% of them honor the Vietnam Veteran. Any proposed events are reviewed by a committee led by a Vietnam Veteran. Only those that fully meet our goal of honoring the Vietnam Veteran are accepted. I hope you have the opportunity visit us again in November and see first-hand the respect and honor that will be bestowed to our American Heroes - the Vietnam Veterans. l Respectfully, Tony

Those of us old enough to recall the Reagan years and after he left office, will readily recall how the media disliked our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. After nearly every speech, we were treated to Sam Donaldson coming on to let us know what he “really said.”

The media was only too quick to run with son Ron Jr.’s claim that Ronald Reagan had Alzheimer’s while in office just a few weeks ago, giving little credence to son Michaels’ counter claims that he did not.

While they still try to draw distinct differences in the article, they try to build an aura of Obama, the New Reagan.

Historian Douglas Brinkley says, “There are policies, and there is persona, and a lot can be told by persona. Obama is approaching the job in a Reaganesque fashion.”

Time makes the comparison Between Obama & Reagan in SOTU speeches, “Let us, in these next two years — men and women of both parties, every political shade — concentrate on the long-range, bipartisan responsibilities of government.” Reagan said in his 1983 State of the Union, “not the short-range or short-term temptations of partisan politics.”

One major difference they miss out on is, Reagan stood for something. He spoke from the heart, meaning what he said. He inspired confidence and expressed leadership. He said what he meant and meant what he said.

Obama does none of that. He only tries to build an image of himself, supported in the article when he and Michelle once were sharing lunch with Nancy Reagan at the White House and she remarked on him being a “lefty.”

Obama’s reply? “I am a lefty. A lefty who wants to be remembered just like Ronnie.”

Now that we see the left has officially began the 2012 re-election effort for the One, we see slogan after slogan being proffered. "Win the Future," "Together We Win," and now, a tee shirt offer of "We Do Big Things."

Yes, and on the back it should read, "Doubled the National Debt," "Raised Taxes," "Threw Millions out of Work," "Takeover an Unprecedented Amount of Business" and "Suffer the Highest Losses of any Midterm Election Since 1938."

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Every year, all across America, High Schools graduate a senior class. Young men & women beginning their lives and moving into adulthood. Some go on to college. Some move on to technical schools. Some enter the workforce right away.

Many are recognized for their scholastic or athletic abilities by receiving scholarships to further their education in universities and are celebrated in small banquets held by donor groups.

Some graduating seniors choose a different path, a path of sacrifice and service to our country, often under the harshest of conditions in faraway lands. They enlist in the Military, embarking on an adventure that will guide them through life, whether they make a career out of it or serve a single enlistment.

Those young men & women are being celebrated in some communities as well, as seen in the video from Times Square in 2008.

Plans are in the works for Vancouver to join in celebrating these young enlistees this year as well, tentatively planned for the month of April, it is anticipated to involve 40-50 enlistees from the Vancouver area. Future events anticipate including the entire Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan area.

While this first event will most likely be more informal, sort of a picnic type event, planners hope future events will be more formal, as in a dinner event.

LTC Thom Crowson, Commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, Portland, has appointed a Civilian Advisory Panel to get the event off the ground. Presently, the Panel is comprised of Brice Barrett, Larry Deibert, Bob Knight, Curt Loop, Jesse Oliver, Larry Smith and Rick Stone, with plans to recruit others to the panel as the event unfolds.

Vancouver city council member Larry Smith, a U.S. Army retiree says, “We want to recognize High School students at graduation who will enter the military. We recognize academic and athletic scholarship students at graduation. Why not students who will serve in our military following graduation? We think these people are very special.”

I couldn’t agree more. We shake their hands walking through stores and airports. We meet them in restaurants and say “thank you.” We may even anonymously pay for their meal, but this is usually after they return, after they have faced war, after their deployment ends.

Why not send them off knowing the community not only supports them, but celebrates their decision to stand up for our country? Why not show them how much we appreciate their willingness to make the sacrifice?

This is an event I am supporting 100% and hope you will too.

Vancouver, let’s make this 1st Annual Future Soldiers Recognition Event a success. Let’s help were we can to get this off the ground and ensure these graduating seniors know we appreciate and support their decision to serve.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Fayetteville, North Carolina is a thriving community directly outside the gates of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the famous 82nd Airborne for quite some time and amongst the largest of US Army bases in the country. Hundreds of thousands of Army Soldiers have trained there and been stationed there since it was created in 1918.

That the city of Fayetteville is dependent upon Ft. Bragg today is an understatement.

During the turmoil of the Viet Nam War, it was also the scene of several anti-Vietnam protests targeting soldiers, encouraging them to desert and trying to convince them how wrong they were to answer the draft, as many had or enlist to fight in Viet Nam. Due to much public sentiment against soldiers in the era, while I was stationed at Ft. Bragg the city was referred to as “Fayettenam.”

It was also there in 1969 that the infamous ‘Quaker House,” a small group devoted to demoralize the soldiers under the guise of “helping them” was created. They, like several other groups, sponsored anti-war rally’s targeting soldiers and Veterans even though they won’t admit it, took out their frustrations on returning Viet Nam Veterans, labeling us “Baby Killers,” “Murders” and other such nonsense. They also featured ‘Hanoi’ Jane Fonda, who to this day portrays herself as the victim of outrage over her treasonous activities, in no less than 3 anti-Vietnam rallies.

That is why I was absolutely stunned, livid and speechless for a few moments after reading about what seems like a well-intentioned Heroes Homecoming by the City of Fayetteville in November 2011 was to include Quaker House as part of the 10 day “Homecoming” to “honor Viet Nam Veterans.”

Mayor Tony Chavonne, a Democrat who never served in any branch of the Military and was first elected mayor in 2005 says of the decision to ask the anti-Vietnam group be included, “Fayetteville's 10-day tribute to Vietnam veterans this fall should portray a complete picture of the era and its impact on the city - including opposition to the war,” adding, “It is an important part of the story we're trying to tell.”

Chuck Fager, director of the Quaker House who proposed showing two anti-war films of the era, “Coming Home” and “FTA” said of the era, “We’re part of that story.”

Yes, a part that continues to fester in open wounds to many Viet Nam Veterans falsely accused of daily war crimes, murder, and other monstrous lies. A part that any sane person with half an ounce of decency would be ashamed of today.

Chavonne adds, “Heroes Homecoming is meant to give Vietnam War Veterans ‘the homecoming that they never received’.”

What obviously escapes this dolt of a mayor is what he proposes to do IS exactly the homecoming we received back then. Will he have them assemble to begin the spitting again? Yes, even though those responsible back then today call us liars for saying it happened and it was never documented, they are wrong as these news articles show. And yes, there are more where these came from.

Both Fager and Chavonne indicate they wish it to be “a full-fledged conversation of the Vietnam War,,, including discussions, educational presentations and a series of films that give a different viewpoint of Vietnam.”

Has the public ever been treated to another viewpoint of Viet Nam other than that written by the anti-war crowd that forced the hand of the government to abandon a struggling ally? Has the country ever given an open ear to those of us who served there, lost buddies there and saw first-hand that the anti-war crowd was dead wrong?

They won’t even admit their ill-treatment of returning Veterans, some actually claiming it was the returning “damaged” Veterans attacking them! Even failed 2004 presidential candidate, John ‘F’in Kerry, a sweetheart of the anti-Vietnam War crowd them said to the Fulbright Commission in his infamous “testimony” given in 1971, “The country doesn't know it yet, but it has created a monster, a monster in the form of millions of men who have been taught to deal and to trade in violence…” forever tainting the 2.6 Million of us who served there as “monsters.”

Melissa Rivera, leading the public relations for “Heroes Homecoming” says, “This is a national event. This has potential to be huge.”

It might have, Melissa. Bringing up the old wounds and allowing your mayor to rub our noses in the discontent taken out on us years ago isn’t exactly what I felt was in mind during the initial planning, but it is what it appears to have become.

That “potential to be huge” could turn out to a big bust should other aging and current anti-war cretins decide they will be present to protest the current war, Troops or even us aging Veterans.

You have a huge potential problem on your hands if you can’t knock some sense into your mayor’s head.

I, for one, have no plans to return to Fayetteville for this event. As long as it will include giving another platform to those who gave such dishonor to returning Veterans, I hope other Viet Nam Veterans boycott it as well.

Sorry Fayetteville, but you do us no honor by rubbing our noses into old wounds that you do not allow to heal.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Once again the nation will be focused on what we often laughingly refer to as “the State of the Union” where the president stands before both houses of congress and the nation and tells us how the country is doing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see we aren’t doing too well.

As we often said in the Army, Situation normal, all ‘fouled’ up!"

People have very little confidence in anything currently. The unemployed are not confident of returning to work. The employed do not feel secure in their jobs. Business owners are not confident of making even slim profits, not knowing what is coming next as politicians continue to “fix” things not actually broken on their backs.

Glib speeches by slick politicians and manufactured applause are not all that is needed currently. A leader is what we need. A leader that can see with so many currently suffering, flying around the world and taking lavish vacations every few weeks, hosting gala dinner parties and asking for more and more from the very ones suffering, does not instill confidence, it erodes it.

A leader that can see the only way to end such high unemployment is let people get back to work, let business create jobs to employ these people and a leader who can identify where jobs can be created that will grow the economy.

We need a leader who can see where government intrusion has destroyed jobs and blocked industry from ‘greasing the wheels’ of our economy to keep it rolling along smoothly.

And most importantly, we need leaders who can identify not only where jobs are sitting and waiting, but that those very jobs and industries have been what has kept America rolling for many decades now.

I have posted in favor of the petroleum industry several times in months past and not because I am heartless and care nothing about the environment, but because although I have never worked in that particular industry, I have benefited my entire life from the product.

It has supplied the electricity and natural gas that has kept me warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It has cooked my food, cleaned my clothes, taken me to and from work, to foreign lands and back home again.

It was there as both of my children were born and has provided the energy needed when I took them and their mother to the hospital or regular doctor visits. It was even present in some medications that helped heal them when sick.

It has kept our society rolling along in countless ways, including providing well paying jobs that spur other well paying jobs in support of it, refining it, transporting it and fueling other industries that in turn create more jobs, more economic freedoms and yes, even revenue to the government so it too can function where needed.

By now you might be wondering how we got from the State of the Union address to the petroleum industry. Just what possible connection could there be between another mundane speech, complete with manufactured applause breaks and inflated standing ovations and the petroleum industry you may be wondering.

While the nation will be focused on what Barack Obama reads off of the teleprompter, disagreeing and agreeing with the various points he will be making, who is paying attention to the State of America’s Energy?

Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute gave such an address earlier this month to a small audience, in comparison as he issued “The State of American Energy, A report that provides [the] industry’s perspective on energy and economic issues and the way the two are inextricably linked.”

For several years now we have heard how mankind is ruining the planet due to petroleum use and how we need so called “Green” energy to promote job growth, save the planet and grow the economy with “sustainable, renewable energy.” As is being found out and reported, such claims are a fallacy!

“Renewable energy subsidies may sustain the jobs of lobbyists, activists, politicians, bureaucrats and politically connected companies. But they will kill millions of other people’s jobs,” says Paul Driessen of CFACT in his article “Renewables are unsustainable.”

As Mr. Gerard so aptly points out, “Our nation will require more oil and natural gas for decades to come. A lot of it will come from deep sea wells and if it doesn’t come from here, then we’ll import it.”

One area where advocates of the “Green” energy lobby claim relief from imports can come is ethanol, fuel created from our food crops. But, does it make any sense at all, at a time so many throughout the world are going hungry and food riots are being seen in all corners, to divert a significant portion of human food to fuel, while we allow bazillions of gallons of a known proven fuel source to just languish in the ground, untapped due to poor political choices?

Beginning a little over two centuries ago, people came together and created the highest average standard of living known to mankind. The average lifestyle we enjoy today was available only to the wealthiest not that long ago. Western civilization grew us out of the dark ages and it was petroleum that fueled that economic growth.

As Jack Gerard says in the speech, “Every sector of the economy depends on affordable energy, every business owner, every worker, every household and family member, every consumer depends on affordable, reliable supplies of oil and natural gas.”

Tuesday evening, Mr. Obama will stand, just as every president before him, and deliver the “State of the Union” address. There will be self congratulatory comments, deserved and undeserved applause, vague proposals, and undoubtedly a plethora of unmerited standing ovations. Parties will be thrown, photos will be taken and politicians will return to business as usual.

You and I on the other hand, will soon be paying $4.00 and more for a gallon of gas and hoping we make enough money to pay our light bills.

We sent a message this past November and I’m not convinced they really heard us. We cannot remain sitting on our laurels, being satisfied with hearing sweet words in our ears about recovery when the very vehicle that could not only provide a significant beginning of a substantial recovery, but fuel it as well sits in the ground untapped.

I urge you to join me in contacting your elected officials and remind them that ‘We the People,’ you and I, sent them there to make the right choices on our behalf. Choices that will grow us out of the economic morass and fuel a sustainable recovery for decades to come.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

For some time now we have sat back and seen when liberals don’t get their way through favorable legislation, they turn to the federal courts for favorable rulings from mostly sympathetic justices that end up issuing rulings that in essence “legislate from the bench.”

We can now see what the new tactic is when they fail to gain the desired legislation from the bench that they are used to getting, call upon a liberal Justice Department to “investigate” Supreme Court Justices they target for failing to recuse themselves from proceedings in order to have that decision vacated and gain their favorable ruling.

Our constitution is little more than toilet paper to these people on the left.

At issue here is the well-known liberal group, Common Cause, heavily funded by liberal Billionaire George Soros group Open Society Institute and the Tides Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and the Carnegie Corporation doesn’t like that they lost the case last year that stripped some elements of McCain-Feingold, allowing corporations to become more involved in political campaigns.

Common Cause is now “asking the Department of Justice to investigate Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia in relation to the Citizens United Supreme Court case, arguing that their decision in the case raised ‘serious questions about the impartiality of’ both justices.”

According to Common Cause President and CEO Bob Edgar, “It appears both justices have participated in political strategy sessions, perhaps while the case was pending, with corporate leaders whose political aims were advanced by the decision,” as contends that the justices should have recused themselves from the case and adding that the decision should be vacated.

Disregarding that such an article written against Barack Obama in Fox News would be considered “racist” by liberals, Justice Thomas is once again tainted by the left as they cite Stephen Gillers, a professor at NYU School of Law saying, “Federal judges are bound by law to disclose the source of spousal income. Thomas’ omission, which could be interpreted as a violation of that law, could lead to some form of penalty.”

Citing Steven Lubet of Northwestern University School of Law, they admit “failure to disclose spousal income is not a crime of any sort, but there is a potential civil penalty for failing to follow the rules.”

A quick search of Common Cause for their outrage or calls for investigation of Barack Obama’s choice for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, whose own tax reporting troubles were billed by the Seattle Times as just a mistake, came back empty.

Similarly, their token support of ethics allegations against Democrats such as New York Representative Charles Rangel and California congresswoman Maxine Waters is acknowledged as is their silence on the slap on the wrist received by Rangel.

At the heart of this a freedom of speech issue decided last year by a 5 to 4 ruling of the Supreme Court. Common Cause brought that issue before the courts and lost. And now, they launch an effort to derail that decision, once again circumventing our constitution and seeking limitations on the first amendment where corporations are concerned.

Most unsettling to me, is their reliance on the constitution in another first amendment issue where they state,

“Freedom of thought and expression lies at the heart of America. The First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech, press, religion and assembly constitute a national commitment to tolerance of unpopular ideas and those who espouse them.”

“So attempts like those now underway in New York to block a Muslim group from opening a community center and mosque near the former site of the World Trade Center strike at our most fundamental values. The politicians and commentators leading the fight against the center are stoking a mob mentality that could scarcely be more un-American; they seek to make enemies out of their fellow countrymen.”

Given the financial support they acknowledge from such liberals as George Soros, seeing that they thumb their nose at Americans offended that a Muslim Mosque might be built very near the spot where radical Muslim terrorists murdered thousands of our people and seeing that by their own admission they are “treading in new territory” where Supreme Court decisions can be circumvented and sections of our constitution neutralized, perhaps it is Common Cause that should be being investigated by the Justice Department.

But, with Barack Obama and his minions still in control of that segment of our government, I won’t hold my breath.

Clearly the conflict of interest is with Common Cause, who also had nothing to say pertaining to any conflict of interest when openly gay U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled the Military Policy against gays serving openly was “unconstitutional” last September.

Do not be fooled. This is nothing more than another liberal power grab to implement their agenda.

After only one year, a bi-partisan House vote decided that the new health care legislation should be repealed HERE. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will not even schedule the legislation passed today for a vote in the Senate.

The people spoke in November and the House reacted today with their bi-partisan vote to repeal it and start over.

Senate Democrats need to stop being the "Party of No!"

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 55% of Likely Voters favor repeal of the health care law."

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Since the founding of our country, men and women have stood up and answered the call to defend her in foreign lands. Millions of our ordinary citizens have donned our uniform and participated in battles to preserve our freedoms and liberties and offer other lands the chance to adopt them as well, should they so choose.

All too many of those brave Americans paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their lives, many never found and others only their remains being returned. Hundreds of thousands of our brave fallen remain buried in foreign lands, families and loved one unable to visit their graves to even pay their respects.

Across the land, Memorials have been erected in remembrance of those who gave their lives for all of us. Memorials where loved ones and family could congregate leaving mementos or pay their respects to their missing loved ones.

Every Memorial Day and Veterans Day, days set aside to show honor and respect to those who have stood between the citizens and our enemies, communities across the country gather at these Memorials. Speeches are made, Veterans are recognized for their sacrifices and the fallen are honored as the true heroes of our country.

Memorials since the founding of the nation have been erected in various shapes and sizes honoring all who fallen and to Veterans, families and loved ones of the fallen, sit on sacred hallowed land.

How tragic, how dispirited is it that now, decades after the raising of these Memorials, a small minority have taken it upon themselves to seek the destruction of these Memorials because the shape of some of them, a simple cross, is ‘offensive’ to them and them alone?

Vandals over the years have taken it upon themselves to deface and demean Memorials and graves of Veterans, but none have engaged in the outright assault on our Memorials as has the American Civil Liberties Union, a group of attorney’s who proclaim they are upholding the U.S. Constitution by using any portion of it they can to deny a majority of the people our right to pay our respects to the memories of our Brave Heroes, should our parents and grandparents have chosen to erect a Veterans Memorial in the simple shape of a cross.

They led the fight to force the destruction of the simple cross erected deep in the Mojave Desert by Veterans of World War One. Losing that battle temporarily by Supreme Court decree, unknown Vandals took upon themselves to sneak out into the desert under the cover of darkness and remove it.

Efforts to replace it, at our expense remain ignored by the very government that sends these Heroes off to war!

The ACLU has been fighting for years now to have yet another Memorial to our fallen Heroes torn down in San Diego County California, even though it too has stood silently for many decades, providing a place of comfort to those who lost loved ones from that region.

For over a decade now, that single Memorial has been under assault by the ACLU targeted for destruction, regardless of efforts to comply with every little nitpicking legal maneuver brought up by them. They have no other desire but the complete destruction of this comforting Memorial.

Recently, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, a frequent ally of the ACLU, once again declared that Memorial “unconstitutional”, marking it for destruction. Veterans and supporters rallied together at the Memorial calling for its preservation and protection from the onslaught of the ACLU.

Legislators from California have introduced legislation, attempting once again to protect our Memorials from being targeted for destruction by the ACLU and others, who feign preservation of the constitution by destroying Veterans Memorials that might be seen by a relative few to be in the shape of the Christian Cross.

Ignored by those misled by the ACLU is that cross is not always just a religious symbol. My friend, Rees Lloyd, a former ACLU attorney told me of the symbols we often us on Memorials,

“Symbols have meaning in collective life. People die for them. For instance the Flag. The Cross manifestly has a religious aspect. But, equally manifestly, it conveys a secular meaning -- the meaning of selfless service and sacrifice for others, and is so understood. Universally. Beyond language barriers. In fact, there is not another symbol so universally recognized as representing selfless service and sacrifice for others, including the ultimate sacrifice of one's life. That is how it is understood at Veterans Memorials, and why it is the symbol so often chosen to honor the war dead.”

Rees is at the front in this fight to preserve our Memorials, representing the American Legion and all of us in California, working to stop this onslaught calling for the destruction of Veterans Memorials.

Veterans and our Associations are taking a stand. One such was recently forwarded to me and I present it to you here,

“As President of the 4th Infantry Division Association of the Great State of California, I believe I speak for the majority of our Association’s Veterans, Past, and Present.

As a Division, our history goes back some 93 years. We have fought, bled, and died protecting those values that this country was founded upon. To desecrate the memories of those that have fallen, no matter what their religion was, if any, to be buried under the most significant symbol known around the world, and then be told that the symbol they fought and bled for is “Unconstitutional,” is not only a slap in their faces, but for this beloved country as well.

Our Veterans are buried under the same Cross, not only in this country but in places all over this world. By telling the world that this country no longer believes that the freedom of religion is worth anything, that we are swayed by individuals like the ACLU, then we are saying that all the sacrifices by our Veterans are in vain.

As Veterans, we all took an oath that we would “Support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that we should bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” Our forefathers based the very foundation of this country on a “Supreme Being” or “God.” The Cross is but a symbol of our belief in that entity. By not Honoring the basics of our Constitution, we not only defame our forefathers, but the basic purpose of the early settlers in coming to this place now known as the United States of America. By not Honoring what the cross stands for, we are doomed.

It is therefore my Honor to support this fight against the decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal and the ACLU and stand behind not only the American Legion, but every Veteran and individual that has fought and/or believed in the principles of this great country.

How insensitive and uncalled for is it that so few would fight so hard for the destruction of a place of solace and remembrance that so many find comfort in. Loved ones, family, former buddies who might have held those in the arms on the battlefield as they breathed their last and who feel a connection to those lost buddies. All are to be denied a place of peaceful assembly in honor of those fallen because the ACLU “doesn’t like the symbol” chosen long ago?

Would this dislike eventually turn to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of headstones erected in National Cemeteries where our brave are interned?

Veterans, we are once again be called to do battle, but not with guns, artillery or bombs. No, this battle will be in the courts and legislatures to protect the memory of those who died giving and preserving our freedom and liberty.

Just as we once stood up and donned the uniform of our respective branches of the Military, we are called upon once again to stand and support our Veterans Memorials.

We are called upon to write letters to the editors and call in to radio programs across the nation supporting the preservation of our Veterans Memorials and protecting them from the destruction sought by the ACLU and others.

Isn’t it about time that those calling for ‘tolerance’ began offering some?

Saturday, January 15, 2011

One week to the day after the horrific shooting spree that killed 6 people, including a 9 year-old girl and left a moderate congresswoman fighting for her life and wounding 14 others, a man attending an ABC-TV town hall meeting was arrested for issuing a death threat before the audience.

ABC News Anchor Christiane Amanpour was hosting the event, being taped for later viewing featuring victims, heroes, witnesses and first responders that were present at last Saturday’s “Congress on the Corner” event in the Safeway parking lot. The event was billed as “devoted to a recounting of what had happened that terrible morning” and carried the theme of “An American Conversation Continued.” Also in attendance were several dignitaries who were not present that day and locals.

The discussion, an effort to continue the discussion congresswoman Gifford’s was trying to have last weekend, eventually turned to politics, gun control specifically.

Suggesting a discussion on gun control should be put off until after the funerals, a Tucson Tea Party founder drew the response from one attendee of “You’re dead.” Earlier, that same Tea Party founder, Trent Humphries was warned by Police to stay away from public places as numerous death threats were made towards him and his family.

State Rep. Terri Proud (R-Tucson) tried to explain current and proposed gun legislation in the state legislature, that drew her boos and groans and according to witnesses sitting around the one who had already threatened Tea Party founder Trent Humphries, infuriated and agitated the man more.

The man was taken into custody as the event was wrapping up by Deputies and as he was being escorted from the room, was heard yelling out “You're all whores!” He has been charged one count of threats and intimidation, with one count of disorderly conduct pending.

Just a few days earlier, shooting victim J. Eric Fuller, a liberal Democrat who was wounded in the knee made news as he spoke to the progressive syndicated Democracy Now! And placed blame for the shooting on Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and other conservatives. Included in his interview was the claim House Speaker John Boehner, “subscribes to lunatic fringe anarchism.”

Today, it was J. Eric Fuller who was placed under arrest for issuing the death threat and acting out as the “lunatic fringe” and “involuntarily committed for a psychiatric evaluation.”

At question now, was Fuller, a well known political activist for the left in Tucson, enticed and provoked into issuing a death threat due to the extreme partisan rhetoric emanating from leftist pundits all week?

Or, did he already possess such hatred and intolerance of those who think differently than he did and receiving a wound to his knee drive him over the edge?

I don’t expect to hear much about this in national news, but would the conversation be that Democrats, left-wing pundits and partisan rhetoric caused him to go berserk had he stood up and shot either Humphries or State Rep. Terri Proud?

Thankfully, we don’t have to have that conversation, thanks to Pima County Deputies.

I hope Fuller receives the mental health care he needs now before he goes off like Jared Loughner did last week and we do have to have such a conversation.

Maybe it is time the left took their own advice and actually toned down their own vitriolic rancor before others are hurt.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Within minutes of the tragic shootings in Tucson, Arizona, Saturday January 8, 2011, an unprecedented assault was launched verbally, in print and in the media, directed against conservatives and Republicans. An assault unlike any I have seen in all my years, placing blame where no evidence even suggested it laid.

A Memorial/Campaign Kick-Off Pep Rally was held Wednesday evening, January 12 at the University of Arizona, complete with souvenirs and a personal message from Barack Obama to the nation, supposedly to "bring us together."

Did anyone on the left listen as he stated, "At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized – at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do – it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds?"

Obviously, the publishers of the New Republic failed to get the message with the cover of their next edition of their magazine, due out February 3, 2011.

Add to this cover the emails sent out by supporters of left-wing politicians lambasting the right still, seeking donations by standing on the graves of the dead and it is apparent that like much else said by Democrats, a lot of feel good hot air was expressed Wednesday evening.

Where is this "new civility" you all are whining about, Democrats? Does "Civility" only mean everyone agree with Democrats? And if not, destroy them?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

We all saw the theme branded to last evenings "Together We Thrive" Memorial/Campaign Pep Rally in Tucson, Arizona, complete with T-Shirts and other Souvenirs. Much speculation is ongoing about that these and just who paid for all of those T-Shirts and other souvenirs.

No one is saying just yet, but a February 2008 post in the Organizing for America blogs featured that exact theme (title if you will).

Click on photos to see larger

Even the buses were emblazoned with "Together We Thrive" as their destination.

Coincidence? Organized effort? For right now, who knows for sure? The university claims they paid $60,000 for the T-Shirts and a student designed them. HERE

In all of the arguments ongoing for years, since the implementation of what has become known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the policy of allow Gays to serve in the Military, as long as they kept their sexuality to themselves, we that opposed repeal of the policy have repeatedly been told how ignorant, out of touch with reality and downright hateful we were over opposing the repeal.

We that opposed the repeal repeatedly warned it was the beginning of a slippery slope and that once the door was opened, others groups considered “deviant” by many would ride the coattails of Gay Activists and force their way to recognition as well through our Military.

We were shouted down and subjected to hateful rhetoric from Gay Activists and their supporters for our “bigotry” and inciting hatred by even suggesting such a thing would happen.

It didn’t take long for our opposition to the repeal to be proven right. Even before the full dismantling of ‘Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell,’ we read of “Transgender Vets Want Military Access” from an Associated Press article.

51-year-old retired Petty Officer First Class Autumn Sandeen, one of six arrested last April for handcuffing themselves to the White House fence in protest of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell and who served in the Navy as a man, said of the congressional repeal of DA/DT, “This is another bridesmaid moment for the transgender community.”

I assume that to mean one step closer to forced acceptance of their lifestyle in the Military as well as we read,

“The "don't ask, don't tell" policy now heading toward history does not apply to transgender recruits, who are automatically disqualified as unfit for service. But the military's long-standing posture on gender-identity has not prevented transgender citizens from signing up before they come out, or from obtaining psychological counseling, hormones and routine health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs once they return to civilian life.”

“So as the Pentagon prepares to welcome openly gay, lesbian and bisexual servicemembers for the first time, Sandeen is not alone in hoping the United States will one day join the seven other nations -- Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, Israel, the Czech Republic, Thailand and Australia -- that allow transgender troops.”

Former Army Capt. Allyson Robinson, who attended West Point as a male cadet adds, “There is really no question, it's just a matter of when” transgender is also recognized through the Military.

Of concern to us all currently, is reading that the labeling of transgender as a “Mental Disorder” “enables some to obtain transition-related medical care and other services” through the Veterans Administration Health Care Facilities, at taxpayer expense. The actual surgery to change gender is not currently covered through the VA, but once transgender is also accepted by congressional legislation, will that remain so? Some VA medical centers already “provide psychological counseling, sex hormones, speech therapy and other medical treatment short of gender reassignment surgery” at taxpayer expense.

I find it reprehensible that while we remain at war and have returning Troops who are wounded, some severely and some with mental anguish due to the actions they had to endure on our behalf, scarce funds are diverted to help someone “deal with” their belief that “God made a mistake” by birthing them in a gender they claim they are not.

Once transgender is also repealed, what of a career soldier who decided to undergo “gender reassignment surgery” and Military Hospitals must honor or pay for such surgery? That would be our precious and scarce tax dollars.

After all, we are told,

“Sandeen said the VA hospital in San Diego made it possible for her to start living as a woman once she retired from the Navy a decade ago. ‘As soon as I got an appointment with the psychiatry department, the first thing I said to them is, I have gender issues. I don’t know if I’m a transvestite or a transsexual or if I’m something in between, but I need to work this out with a therapist’.”

Our tax dollars paid for “prescribing estrogen to help her grow breasts and hips and diminish body and facial hair,” said Sandeen, previously classified as a “disabled Veteran” with bipolar disorder.

Eye opening too is another confrontational exchange described by the AP. “San Diego resident Zander Keig, who was a woman during a two-year stint with the Coast Guard, had been on testosterone for a year when he wanted his prescription transferred from a suburban VA clinic. But veterans are not allowed to change their names on discharge papers so he was directed to the women’s VA clinic in San Francisco.
Keig, 44, said a senior physician there ‘grilled me with questions. Why are you taking T? Do you know what it’s doing to your body? How are you eligible for these services?’
‘I said, 'I established my eligibility for VA services in 1988, I have every reason to be here. Am I going to get my shots or not’?”

We are then told that he/she received the shots at taxpayer expense, after spending a mere two years in the Coast Guard during peace time.

Taxpayers will foot the bill for very expensive gender reassignment surgery once transgender joins Gays in congressional repeal and is imposed on our Military. And, we thought federal funding of abortions was an issue?

We also read that the VA is “hoping to create a formal directive in the near future” in regards to Veterans who claim they are “Transgender” and seek medical care through Veterans Medical Services.

We warned of the slippery slope and others riding the coattails of Gay Activists with this repeal and were ignored. All of the problems associated with repealing DA/DT have not even been fully seen and we are beginning to see others not considered.

For example, since congress voted to “end the discrimination” against gays by repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, they will have little choice but to also “end the discrimination” against Transgender and any other “alternate lifestyle” demanding an “end to discrimination” against them. The door has been opened and it cannot be shut again.

Taking into consideration the Pentagon has announced that Heterosexual Troops MUST shower with Homosexual Troops, will Heterosexual female Troops also be forced to shower with male Troops that identify themselves as transgender female, although all of their masculine components remain fully intact?

Will it require separate toilet facilities instead, while others are forced to undergo being ogled?

This “feel-good” attitude permeating our nation in full acceptance of any and every deviancy from the norm can lead to no good. Using the Military for social experimentation degrades our Troops as they are expected to fight battles on our behalf as we speak.

What next, Pedophile Veterans of American, Bestiality Veterans, Pederast Veterans, National Association for the Advancement of Bigamists demanding recognition too? How do you deny them after accepting others once looked upon as deviant as well?

You said there was no slippery slope and here it is staring you in the face.

Monday, January 10, 2011

The Westboro cretins from Topeka, Kansas, (I refuse to call them either Baptist or a church), led by life-long Democrat Fred Phelps, who has five times been a candidate for political office in Kansas Democratic Party primaries and is well-known for the hate rhetoric against Gays and the American Military by protesting at funerals, has announced they will protest the funeral of 9 year-old Christine Green, killed in the carnage Saturday, January 8, 2011 by Jared Loughner.

The hate group posted a message that says in part, [Christine] "was killed for your rebellion when God sent the shooter to deal with idolatrous America."

If anything has ever been able to bring the feuding political rhetoric in America to a temporary halt, it is this hate group showing up at funerals.

Speculation is, the outlaw biker gang, Hell's Angels, who has stood between the hate group and families in the past, might once again do so.

UPDATE: Governor Brewer left the following comment on her facebook page: "Tonight I signed SB1101 into law, which creates a 300-foot barrier between picketers and any location where a funeral or burial service is held. Such despicable acts of emotional terrorism will not be tolerated in the State of Arizona. This legislation will assure that the victims of Saturday’s tragic shooting in Tucson will be laid to rest in peace with the full dignity and respect that they deserve."

Sunday, January 09, 2011

The atrocity seen in Tucson, Arizona yesterday, January 8, 2011 is the talk of the media, just as we would expect it to be. In what we have come to expect, such tragic events inspire the political left to lash out at political opponents and Sunday’s talk shows are no different.

Barely mentioned are that 6 people, including 9 year-old Christine Green lay dead and a pro-second amendment Democrat fights for her life after being shot through the head by a young man identified by friends as a “liberal” who obviously suffers from some extreme mental derangement.

Without hesitation, we saw pundits begin assigning blame to Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, conservative talk radio and the Tea Party who stood up for our rights last year although there is absolutely no evidence of any connection between the accused shooter, 22 year-old Jared Loughner.

But, since when do activists allow facts to get in the way of their hateful agenda?

Moveon.org, a leftist group that is among the top of the leftist agenda promoters sent out an email just today where they say,

“The tragedy in Tucson has shaken us all to the core. Facts are still coming in, and we all must be careful not to jump to premature conclusions.”
“But in the wake of this disaster one thing is clear: We must put an end to the rhetoric of violence and hate that has exploded in America over the past two years.”

The authors of the groups email continue with, “But the terrifying fact is that this act of violence falls into a pattern that has emerged over the past two years in America and in Gabrielle Giffords' district in particular,” even after saying they must not jump to conclusions.

Subtlety pointing blame again at the conservative right, the email concludes,

“There's reason to believe that this individual may have a mental issue. And I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol... When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government. The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.”

I am only left to ponder just when will they or any of the left-leaning media pundits crying out so loud today apologize or condemn;

Those of you on the political left talk the talk, now it is time for you to walk the walk.

As in most political rhetoric and blame today, if you really wish to ratchet it down, it is your side where it needs to be ratcheted down.

Or, as many of us suspect, this I just one more of your efforts to silence opposition and the fact that 6 people, including a 9 year-old child lay dead and a pro-second amendment Democrat fights for her life after being shot through the head by a young man identified by friends as a ‘liberal’ is just one more tool in your playbook.

The links above are just the tip of the iceberg of the hateful rhetoric and vitriol thrown out daily by leftist media in America against conservatives. This has been ongoing for a lot longer than just the last two years as most who were listening throughout the years of Ronald Reagan's presidency can recall news anchor Sam Donaldson appearing after every speech or appearance of Reagan's on TV telling us what “he really said.”

Saturday, January 08, 2011

As expected and all too often seen, today's tragic murder of 6 people, including a federal Judge and a 9 year-old child, believed to be targeting Democrat congresswoman Gabrielle Gibbons of Arizona's 8th district has liberals frothing at the mouth in blaming others with no evidence whatsoever.

It has become common place in America's politically charged partisanship that liberal Democrats are never to blame for anything and talk radio, Fox News and conservatives in general are the reason for all that is wrong. That it is not true is of no relevance to the leftist in our midst, only promoting their agenda du jour.

Today's alleged shooter, 22 year-old Jared Lee Loughner was quickly identified not only as the shooter by witnesses, but immediately news sites reporting the Arizona atrocity began seeing comments left placing blame on the backs of the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, Conservatives, Talk Radio and whoever they could blame, so long as they never have to look at their own hatemongering rhetoric.

Unfortunately for the leftists, they are once again left looking like total fools as all indications point to Loughner being a liberal psychotic and unhinged. If anything, he really has no political affiliation, evidenced by incomprehensible ramblings left posted on websites and videos.

Truth has no place in the agenda driven left, though. All that matters is furthering the destruction of the very freedoms they flaunt.

Actual evidence has been sketchy all day, at one point congresswoman Gibbons being reported as deceased when she was actually undergoing surgery and in critical condition.

Much to the chagrin of the left I'm sure, early reports of the shooter being a recent Afghanistan War Veteran proved false as the Army confirmed they had rejected him for military service.

Not a single one of the usual slate of targets has expressed anything but concern over the tragic events of the day, but does the left care about that? No, they do not care about accuracy, just agenda.

Soon, the leftist trolls will slink away again, ignoring their false allegations and just waiting for another chance to repeat it, all the while ignoring their own culpability in the extreme hatred and dividing of America.

If there is anything more pathetic on the face of the earth than a left-winged troll, I don't what it could be.

Political Correctness has attained a new low (height to some) that has Gay Activists applauding the State Departments decision to revamp Passport Applications with the deletion of the designation “mother” and “father” under parents and to soon be designated as “parent one” and “parent two.”

A Fox News article states the State Department website noted: “These improvements are being made to provide a “gender neutral” description of a child’s parents and in recognition of different types of families.”

Brenda Sprague, deputy assistant Secretary of State for Passport Services said, “We find that with changes in medical science and reproductive technology that we are confronting situations now that we would not have anticipated 10 or 15 years ago.”

Jennifer Chrisler, executive director of the pro-gay group Family Equality Council, who has lobbied for such a change for years said, “Changing the term mother and father to the more global term of parent allows many different types of families to be able to go and apply for a passport for their child without feeling like the government doesn’t recognize their family.”

I hate to throw a wet blanket on Ms. Chrisler’s, Ms. Sprague’s and the State Departments jubilation, but there is no such thing as “gender neutral parentage.” Whether a child is conceived in the more natural method inside the womb or in a modern outside the womb manner, it still requires the combination of a male (father) and female (mother) component.

Another small problem the PC groups applauding this ridiculous change are ignoring. For several years many of these same PC liberals have warned of any form of discipline that might humiliate or in any way denigrate a child.

Are they not know encouraging such humiliation and denigration of one parent by designating one as “number two,” or less important?

Even if the couple is two gays or two lesbians, which one is less important enough to be designated “number two?”

Monday, January 03, 2011

Washington’s junior senator, Maria Cantwell, has once again showed her lack of concern for not only constituents in our state, but America in general. In yet another show of her poor attitude towards those she was elected to represent, she has left the family of fallen soldier, Sgt. Sean Collins feeling slighted.

Sgt. Collins was one of six soldiers killed in a suicide attack December 12, 2010 in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was laid to rest December 29 in Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Washington. His family received an outpouring of empathy from friends and complete strangers and received a letter from Senator Cantwell that they felt expressed condolences too, until they opened it and read it.

Sgt. Collins’ father, retired Lt. Col. Patrick Collins said the outpouring and condolences was “overwhelming,” in regards to those received from friends and strangers. He cannot say that in regards to the letter received from Senator Cantwell’s office.

Sgt. Collins mother, Linda Collins, received the letter from Senator Cantwell’s office December 20. Reading it, they were shocked to read the last paragraph,

“Again, please accept my warmest condolences. May your memories of Bryn and the knowledge that he made a positive impact on the lives of so many serve as a source of comfort to you during this time of sorrow.”

Sgt. Collins’ name is Sean, not Bryn. Obviously, the letter of condolence was little more than a form letter sent from an aide and apparently not even proofread.

Sean’s mother said of the letters,

“They couldn’t even proofread it. I’m sure if her son had died, she would’ve at least wanted his name spelled correctly.”

His father, a retired Lt. Col. Undoubtedly familiar with proper protocol in such tragic incidences said,

“That’s just sloppy staff work, that’s an embarrassment.”

Senator Cantwell’s office had been short-staffed for the holidays, but it is inexcusable for such a slip-up to occur. How hard can it be, especially considering our so-called representatives use form letters for most of their correspondence with us, to get the right name on it?

Cantwell’s staffers have said they are looking into the “mistake.” But what of Senator Cantwell? What effort is she making to correct this slight from her office to the family of a fallen soldier?

Senator Cantwell, identified as “other woman” in a lobbyists divorce a few years ago, has created a reputation for herself for placing more prurient interests above others, is a liberal Democrat who votes almost lock-step with a progressive agenda. Her support of our Troops in war seems to shift along with who is in the White House.

Regardless, how much effort does it really take to ensure her office at least gets the name right on a letter of condolence?

Sgt. Collins’ family also feels slighted by hearing Obama could call Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie to thank him for giving convicted dog abuser Michael Vick another chance with a dog, but couldn’t even have a White House staffer call the family of a fallen soldier to express condolences.

Senator Cantwell is supposed to be closer to Washington State families, though. The soldiers give their all for our freedoms and their families pay a high price, especially for those who killed in the service of our country.

We elect these people to represent us and pay them handsomely with an overly generous benefit package.

Is it too much to expect the families of fallen soldiers at least receive a personal note of condolence or a call from them?

"Senator Cantwell has the greatest respect for Sergeant Sean M. Collins' service and the deepest sympathy for his family's tremendous loss. Senator Cantwell has spoken with both of the fallen soldier's parents to convey her respect and deepest sympathies. Our office hopes that this error will not overshadow this bright young man's service to our country nor cloud the respect Senator Cantwell has for the Collins family and her heartfelt sorrow for their loss."

Words from Heroes To Heroes. Do No Harm, Especially to Yourself

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